A Mindnode is born

[Shagohad]

First Officer Karuda Takao sat in the captain's chair, smiling to himself. His finger suddenly snapped up, pointing at the helmsman. "Increase power to the engines. Let's impress the Captain and get there in a more time-efficient manner."

"Yes, sir," The helmsman said tiredly, his fingers dancing lazily across the control panel.

"Where's the enthusiasm?" Karuda asked, turning his nose up and looking down at the man.

"Aye, sir! Increasing power to engines! Increasing time-efficiency!" He gave more cheer into his tone. Karuda smiled, glad that the point was put across. The speed increased slightly, the effects of inertia felt for a split second before the dampeners kicked in. He lurched slightly, giving a disapproving grunt.

"Contact engineering. Tell them that the dampeners are failing."

"But, Sir-" The communications officer was cut off as Karuda's eyes stared daggers at him. With a sigh he replied, "Yes, Sir. Contacting engineering."

Everything was going perfectly.

Two hours later

Karuda's cat nap was disrupted by the blare of an alarm. His eyes fluttered open, hand coming up to wipe at the line of drool at the corner of his mouth. "Status report!" He screeched.

"Asteroid field, Sir!" The helmsman replied, "Should we contact the captain?"

"No!" He practically yelled it, "We are going to prevail. This shouldn't be here! This isn't right!" His gaze locked with the screen, showing rocks of all sizes and shapes lazily drifting about. Now was the time to prove himself. "Increase engines to full. Charge into the field and bash the rocks aside with our hull!"

"Bu-"

"DO IT!"

"Yes...sir..."

The engines flared suddenly, the vessel plowing into the asteroid field.

---

"THE HULL HAS BEEN BREACHED AND THE SCIENCE IS LEAKING OUT!"